Carex plant named ‘Ficre’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Carex oshimensis , ‘Ficre’, characterized its dwarf plant habit, its foliage that is variegated with deep green centers and creamy yellow margins, and its ust growth habit.

Botanical classification: Carex oshimensis.

Varietal denomination: ‘Ficre’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Carexoshimensis and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name,‘Ficre’. ‘Ficre’ is a new cultivar of perennial ornamental grass grownfor container and landscape use, primarily in shaded exposures.

The new cultivar, ‘Ficre’ arose as a naturally occurring chimeralmutation of Carex oshimensis ‘Evergold’ (not patented). The Inventordiscovered ‘Ficre’ in August of 2011 in a container at his nursery inOldtown, Stoneyford, Co. Kilkenny, Republic of Ireland.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by shootdivision in Oldtown, Stoneyford, Co. Kilkenny, Republic shoot divisionhas determined that the characteristics are stable and are reproducedtrue to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combinationdistinguish ‘Ficre’ as a distinct cultivar of Carex.

-   -   1. ‘Ficre’ exhibits a dwarf plant habit.    -   2. ‘Ficre’ exhibits foliage that is variegated with deep green        centers and creamy yellow margins.    -   3. ‘Ficre’ exhibits a robust growth habit.

‘Evergold’, the parent plant of ‘Ficre’, differs from ‘Ficre’ in havingfoliage that is variegated with creamy yellow centers and green margins.‘Ficre’ can be most closely compared to the cultivars ‘Eversheen’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 25,938) and ‘Everlime’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,622).‘Eversheen’ differs from ‘Ficre’ in having foliage that is variegatedwith green-yellow centers and deep green margins. ‘Everlime’ differsfrom ‘Ficre’ in having variegated foliage with centers that are green incolor with lime green margins.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceand distinct characteristics of a six month-old plant the new Carex asgrown outdoors in a 19-cm container in Oldtown, Stoneyford, C. Kilkenny,Ireland.

The photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates the dwarf plant habit andappearance of ‘Ficre’ in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the flowers of‘Ficre’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of the foliage of‘Ficre’.

The colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describethe colors of the new Carex.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of six month-old plants as grownoutdoors in a nursery in 19-cm containers in Co. Kilkenny, Republic ofIreland. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations inenvironmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not beentested under all possible environmental conditions. The colordetermination is in accordance with The 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of TheRoyal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general colorterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:    -   -   Blooming period.—Inflorescences emerge in mid February and            continue into mid summer in the Republic of Ireland.        -   Plant habit.—Herbaceous perennial, flattened globular with            arching leaves and inflorescences.        -   Growth habit.—Broad, spreading.        -   Height and spread.—Reaches about 19.7 cm in height, spreads            to about 37.5 cm in diameter.        -   Hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zones 6.        -   Plant vigor.—Robust.        -   Diseases and pests.—No more susceptible or resistant to            pests and diseases than other Carex varieties (which are            typically dieseae free).        -   Root description.—Short, stout rhizomes with dense, fibrous            roots, roots moderately branched.        -   Propagation.—Shoot division.        -   Branching.—Average of 62 main shoots grow from the base, no            lateral branches.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Linear, strongly curved (arching).        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf base.—Sheathing.        -   Leaf apex.—Long acuminate.        -   Leaf aspect.—Leaves initially emerge upright, then cascade            outward and finally arch downward until the terminal blades            lay on the ground.        -   Leaf venation.—Parallel.        -   Leaf margins.—Entire and moderately sharp when rubbed            downwards due to very small teeth too small to be seen or            measured.        -   Leaf size.—Matures to an average of 24.3 cm in length and 7            mm in width.        -   Leaf number.—Average of 10 leaves per shoot.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Leaf surface.—Upper side glossy, lower side moderately            glossy, both sides are smooth.        -   Leaf color.—Young upper surface; 143A to 144A, with narrow            margins 154C, young lower surface; 154C to 154D, mature            upper surface; color between N137A and 139A, with margins            154D, mature lower surface; N137B with margins 154C to 154D.        -   Durability to stresses.—High.        -   Petiole.—No petioles, leaves sheathing; average of 1.9 cm in            width and ranging between 177B to 177C and 201A to 201B in            color.-   Flower description:    -   -   General description.—Terminal racemes, male and female            flowers on separate spikelets.        -   Inflorescence size.—Average of 6.1 cm in height and 9 mm in            width.        -   Flower quantity per inflorescence.—Average of 45 male            flowers placed in an average of 1 spikelet and an average of            72 female flowers placed in an average of 2 spikelets.        -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—Flowers last about 10 days.        -   Flowering season.—Continuous from late winter into summer.        -   Response time to flower.—Approximately 8 months.        -   Rate of flower opening.—After first initial flowers open in            an inflorescence all flowers open within 3 weeks.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Flower buds.—Male flower: average of 5 mm in length and 2 mm            in diameter, narrow oblong in shape and 199B to 199C in            color, female flower: average of 5 mm in length and 2 mm in            width, narrow obovate in shape and 147D in color.        -   Spikelet shape.—Sedge-like, narrowly ovate.        -   Persistence of spikelets.—Persistant.        -   Floret (spikelet) size.—Staminate florets; an average of 2            mm in diameter and 7 mm in length, pistillate florets; an            average of 3 mm in diameter and 6 mm in length.        -   Floret (spikelet) description.—1 glume on inner side and 1            lemma on outer side, male flower: average of 1 glume and 1            lemma, glume and lemma surfaces smooth and dull, glume and            lemma lanceolate in shape, glume and lemma entire margin,            glume apex long, narrow and acute, lemma apex long and            mucronate, glume and lemma 7 mm in length and 1 mm in width,            glume and lemma color: upper and lower surface when opening            and fully open; N199C to N199D, female flower: (no glume),            lemma; 1, smooth and dull surfaces, lanceolate in shape,            entire margin, apex long and mucronate, average of 6 mm in            length and 1 mm in width, color: upper and lower surface            when opening and fully open; 147D, margins tinged with 176B.        -   Peduncle.—An average of 15.2 cm in length and 1 mm in            diameter, held upright to 5° to upright, glabrous surface,            strong and 143A in color.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Gynoecium.—Average of 1 pistil about 3 mm in length, stigma            is fimbriate and 156D in color, style is about 0.5 mm in            length and 144B in color, ovary is 144C in color.        -   Androcoecium.—Average of 3 stamens, basifixed, about 2 mm in            length and 162A to 162B in color, pollen production very low            and insufficient in quantity to be color coded.        -   Fruits and seeds.—Seed production has not been observed to            date.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Carex plant named‘Ficre’ as herein illustrated and described.